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NWDP: Avian Health in Wildlife

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NWDP collects samples from wild birds for disease surveillance. Surveillance helps

APHIS better understand and track the presence of avian influenza and other

pathogens of concern along migratory bird pathways. 

Detecting highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in wild birds, or influenza viruses

that have the potential to mutate to high pathogenicity, is the primary focus of wild

bird surveillance efforts; however, the NWDP also checks for several other avian

pathogens that could have a potential impact on domestic poultry, human health,

and other wild bird species. 

Since 2006, the NWDP and its collaborators have collected over 500,000 samples

from wild birds by using a structured surveillance framework developed in
cooperation with APHIS Veterinary Services and other members of the Interagency

Avian Influenza Steering Committee. Many of these samples come from either live

trapping wild birds, from collaborator work with bird banding operations, or from

opportunistic collection from hunter harvest. The program can also test samples for

other avian pathogens that have a potential impact on domestic poultry, human

health, or other wild bird species, including avian paramyxovirus serotype-1,

Salmonella, and a variety of arboviruses.

Avian Influenza

Avian influenza virus infections are common in wild birds around the world. In most

cases, infected birds show little sign of disease; however, some strains can become

highly pathogenic in domestic poultry and more recently, those highly pathogenic

strains have been circulating persistently in wild birds. Highly pathogenic avian

influenza is extremely contagious and deadly to domestic poultry. If found in the

United States, the appropriate management action is to quickly eradicate the

disease to protect poultry producers, flocks, and the economy. Wild bird surveillance

helps APHIS to better understand and track the presence or introduction of avian

influenza along migratory wild bird pathways. Advanced warnings from wild bird

surveillance enable poultry producers to consider altering biosecurity in the face of

increased AIV risk and also help inform zoonotic disease potential. For more

information, please see: Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

Avian Paramyxovirus Serotype-1

Newcastle disease is a contagious viral disease of birds and is caused by virulent

avian paramyxovirus serotype 1. More than 230 bird species are susceptible to avian

paramyxoviruses, but many infected birds do not show symptoms. In wild birds, the

effects vary depending on the bird species and the severity of the APMV strain.

Newcastle disease is usually suspected when large die-offs of cormorants, gulls, or

pelicans are detected in the upper Midwest or northeast regions of the United

States.

Severity of avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 is measured by its ability to cause

disease in chickens and is subsequently categorized as a high or low pathogenic

virus. Virulent Newcastle disease virus (vND) refers only to virus strains of high
pathogenicity. The poultry industry is concerned with vND because it causes illness,

death, and reduced egg production that can result in severe economic losses. While

rare in the United States, vND has been introduced in the past by illegal trafficking

of exotic birds.

Other Avian Health Diseases

Arboviruses are pathogens that can be transmitted by arthropods, like mosquitoes.

Some of these viruses can cause severe disease in humans and can even result in

death. Arboviruses that the NWDP has worked on in the past include Eastern equine

encephalitis virus (EEEV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), and LaCrosse virus

(LACV).

Salmonella spp. are common bacteria causing infection in birds, other animals, and

people. Salmonella spp. infection is a continuous problem for the poultry industry

and leads to significant morbidity and mortality in domestic flocks. Eggs or meat

contaminated with Salmonella spp. can cause disease outbreaks in people and

represent a public health risk. Infection is common in wild birds, especially in areas

where large numbers of birds gather.

Contact Us

National Wildlife Disease Program

The National Wildlife Disease Program works with partners nationwide to conduct

disease monitoring and surveillance in wild animals and is the primary emergency

response contact point within APHIS Wildlife Services. Our program coordinator is

available for questions about wildlife disease monitoring and surveillance, the status

of disease outbreaks and emerging disease events, and wildlife emergency response

activities in natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, wildfires) or oil spills.

Julianna Lenoch

National Wildlife Disease Program Coordinator

Email: julianna.b.lenoch@usda.gov
Phone: 970-266-6350

Sarah Bevins

Assistant National Wildlife Disease Program Coordinator

Email: sarah.n.bevins@usda.gov

All Contacts